Graduate Admissions

Office of Graduate Admissions Kendall Hall 101
gradschool.gallaudet.edu
(202) 651-5400

[Note: In most cases, all supporting documents must be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office before the application will be reviewed by the department.  Some departments require that specific materials be sent directly to the department.  Read the requirements carefully.   Each page you submit should be labeled with your name and a "page X of X" numbering system; that includes any materials you may send to us electronically.]

Who Can Apply

Any person who holds a bachelor's degree and is interested in pursuing courses toward an advanced degree can apply to our Graduate School. Qualified Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing students are all welcome.  Almost 50% of the graduate student population at Gallaudet is Deaf.

When to Apply

ADMISSION FOR FALL SEMESTER

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applications and all supporting documents should be received by the Graduate Admissions Office by February 15. Although many departments will accept applications later than this date, most begin to fill their incoming classes in late February.  Completing your application by February 15 assures consideration of your materials for placement in the next incoming class. (Note: Applications to the Clinical Psychology program must be received by February 1st. Applications from international applicants should be completed by the end of December to allow time for completing all the requirements involved in issuing a student visa.)  Specific application deadlines and other requirements are listed with the information about each program in this catalog.

Applications received after the February 15 deadline will be accepted and reviewed only on a space-available basis. Please consult the program you wish to apply for if you are applying late.

The Dean of the Graduate School and Professional Programs will notify applicants when program decisions are made regarding applications.

Gallaudet University has endorsed the Council of Graduate Schools agreement that potential students will not be asked to make a final decision to accept admission or financial support before April 15.

JANUARY AND SUMMER ADMISSIONS

Although degree students are usually admitted in the fall semester due to the sequencing of courses, programs retain the option to accept January applicants. Students interested in January or summer admission should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions and the individual program for details.

How to Apply

Graduate admissions is a shared process at Gallaudet. The faculty in the program to which you apply evaluate your application and make a recommendation to the Graduate School regarding admission. The final decision is made by the Dean.

By far the easiest way to apply to graduate school is to fill out our online application. Your information will be saved as you go. While we prefer that you use our Online Application form, we also have a "paper and pencil" Application Booklet available. Applicants for graduate special student status should also use this form (either online or printed) and complete the section that pertains to Graduate Special Students.

Applying to More than One Graduate Program

• Fill out an application form completely for each program to which you are applying.
• The fee for the first application is $50. Add $25 for each additional application. Paper applications should be submitted at the same time, and online applications should be submitted within two days of each other to get the reduced rate. 
• Separate goal statements, letters of recommendation, and transcripts are required for each application and should focus on the program you are applying to.

Applying to a Second Graduate Degree Program after Matriculation

• If you are interested in receiving two degrees, read the requirements for Dual Degrees under the heading "Requirements for Degrees" in the next section.
• Fill out a complete application form for the new program to which you are applying.
• The application fee for the second degree program is $50.
• New goal statements, letters of recommendation, and transcripts may be required for the new application. (Check with the program advisor of the new program.)
• A written plan of study, including course schedule and timeline, must be developed by you and your advisors in both programs and submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office with the recommendation for admission to the second degree program.

Sign Language Proficiency

Entry requirements for sign language proficiency differ by program. It is important to state, however, that Gallaudet University is a bilingual community in which American Sign Language and English exist side-by-side. Most classes are taught using sign language. In addition, most of the social interaction on the campus is conducted in sign language. Prospective graduate students are advised to prepare themselves as much as possible to participate in this environment.

For students whose home institution does not provide sufficient sign language training, Gallaudet offers a wide selection of sign language courses each summer as well as in the evenings during the regular school year. Contact aslprograms@gallaudet.edu for more information.

Reapplication

Application materials for persons not accepted for a program of study will be kept for two years from the initial date of application. Within those two years, a person may reapply by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new online application and updated materials for academic and professional information that has changed since the original application. The fee for reapplying is $50. The deadline for most programs is February 15th.

Accepting our Offer of Graduate School Admissions

Students who are offered admission to the Graduate School must accept the offer in writing and pay the $100 admissions fee by the deadline stated in the letter of admission from the Dean.